Study Desk

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will never drink wine or any strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.Numbers 6:3; Judges 13:4; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 7:33; Galatians 1:15;">[xr]

He is the one who will go before the Lordbefore him">[fn] with the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and to prepare the people to be ready for the Lord."Malachi 4:5; Matthew 11:14; Mark 9:12;">[xr]

Then Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I know this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years."in her days">[fn]Genesis 17:17;">[xr]

Meanwhile, the people kept waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed in the sanctuary so long.

After this,After those days">[fn] his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and remained in seclusion for five months. She said,

"This is what the Lord did for me when he looked favorably on me and took away my public disgrace."Genesis 30:23; Isaiah 4:1;">[xr]

Then the angel told her, "Stop being afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

And listen! Elizabeth, your relative, has herself conceived a son in her old age. This is the sixth month for the woman who was said to be barren.

For nothing is impossible for God."Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17; Zechariah 8:6; Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 18:27; Romans 4:21;">[xr]

At this timeIn those days">[fn] Mary set out hurriedly for a Judean city in the hill country.Joshua 21:9-11;">[xr]

For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.

How blessed is this woman for believing that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled!"

for he has looked favorably on his humble servant.1 Samuel 1:11; Psalm 138:6; Malachi 3:12; Luke 11:27;">[xr] From now on, all generations will call me blessed,

because the Almighty has done great things for me.Psalm 71:19; 111:9; 126:2-3;">[xr] His name is holy.

His mercy lasts from generation to generationGenesis 17:7; Exodus 20:6; Psalm 103:17-18;">[xr] for those who fear him.

When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.

He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And everyone was amazed.Luke 1:13;">[xr]

All who heard about it debated in their minds what had happened and said, "What will this child become?" For it was obvious that the hand of the Lord was with him.Genesis 39:2; Psalm 80:17; 89:21; Luke 2:19,51; Acts 11:21;">[xr]

He has raised up a mighty Saviora horn of salvation">[fn] for usPsalm 132:17;">[xr] from the family of his servant David,

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High.Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; 4:5; Matthew 11:10; Luke 11:17;">[xr] For you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his ways